If you lose or damage your PASS-Key®III+ key,
see your dealer/retailer or a locksmith who can
service PASS-Key
®III+ to have a new key made.
Do not leave the key or device that disarms or
deactivates the theft deterrent system in the
vehicle.
Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will perform better in
the long run if you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one constant speed,
fast or slow, for the rst 500 miles
(805 km). Do not make full-throttle starts.
Avoid downshifting to brake, or slow,
the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
the new brake linings are not yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can
mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you get new brake
linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See
Towing a Trailer on page 342for the
trailer towing capabilities of your vehicle
and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can
be gradually increased.
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Automatic Transaxle Operation
The automatic transaxle may have a shift lever
located either on the steering column or on
the console between the seats.
There are several different positions for the shift
lever.
PARK (P):This position locks the front wheels. It
is the best position to use when you start the
engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake rmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not
move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, always set your parking brake
and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 126.Ifyou
are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
on page 342.
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DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. It
provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle. If
you need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push
the accelerator all the way down.
The transaxle will shift down to the next gear
and have more power.
Downshifting the transaxle in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see Skidding
underLoss of Control on page 317.
Notice:Driving your vehicle if you notice that it
is moving slowly or not shifting gears as you
increase speed may damage the transaxle. Have
your vehicle serviced right away. You can drive
in SECOND (2) when you are driving less than
35 mph (55 km/h) and DRIVE (D) for higher
speeds until then.DRIVE (D) can be used for towing. You may want
to shift the transaxle to THIRD (3) or, if necessary,
to a lower gear if the transaxle shifts too often under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.
SeeTowing a Trailer on page 342for more
information.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal
driving. However, it reduces vehicle speed
more than DRIVE (D) without using your brakes.
You might choose THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D)
when driving on hilly, winding roads, when
towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between
gears and when going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2):This position reduces vehicle speed
more than THIRD (3) without using your brakes.
You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help
control your speed as you go down steep mountain
roads, but then you would also want to use your
brakes off and on.
Notice:Do not shift into SECOND (2) unless
you are going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h), or
you can damage your engine and/or transaxle.
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A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is
set, the ignition is on, and the vehicle speed is
greater than 5 mph (8 km/h). The brake light
will come on and stay on until the parking brake is
released. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 229for more information.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular
brake pedal down with your right foot and push the
parking brake pedal down with your left foot.
When you lift your left foot, the parking brake pedal
will follow it to the released position.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake system
parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully
released and the brake warning light is
off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any
hill, seeTowing a Trailer on page 342.Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 342.
126
Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust
into your vehicle. See the earlier caution
underEngine Exhaust on page 130.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let
deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your
vehicle even if the climate control fan is at
the highest setting. One place this can
happen is a garage. Exhaust — with
CO — can come in easily. NEVER park in
a garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 328.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave
your vehicle when the engine is running
unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake after you
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
will not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 126.
If you are parking on a hill and if you are pulling a
trailer, also seeTowing a Trailer on page 342.
131
Using Adaptive Cruise Control on Hills
and When Towing a Trailer
How well Adaptive Cruise Control will work on hills
and when towing a trailer depends on your vehicle’s
speed, vehicle load, traffic conditions and the
steepness of the hills. It may not detect a vehicle
in your lane while driving on hills. When going up
steep hills, you may want to use the accelerator
pedal to maintain your vehicle’s speed. When going
downhill, especially when towing a trailer, you may
want to brake to keep your speed down. Applying
the brake disengages the system. You may choose
not to use Adaptive Cruise Control on steep hills,
especially when towing a trailer.
Disengaging Adaptive Cruise Control
To turn off the system, apply the brake pedal,
press the cancel button, or press the Adaptive
Cruise Control button.
Erasing Set Speed Memory
When you press the Adaptive Cruise Control
button or turn the ignition off, the set speed
memory is erased.
Other Messages
There are three additional messages that may
appear on the DIC. They are SERVICE RADAR
CRUISE, RADAR CRUISE NOT READY and
CLEAN RADAR. These messages will appear
to indicate a problem with the Adaptive Cruise
Control. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 246for more information.
Cleaning the System
The radar can become blocked by snow, ice, or
dirt. If so, you may need to turn off the engine and
clean the lens. Remember, do not use Adaptive
Cruise Control in icy conditions, or when visibility
is low, such as in fog, rain or snow.
The emblem/lens is located in the center of
the grille.
To clean the emblem/lens, wipe the surface with a
soft cloth. After cleaning the emblem/lens, try to
engage the Adaptive Cruise Control. If you
are unable to do so, see your dealer.
192
If the battery continues to discharge, even with
the engine idling at a higher rpm setting, some
electrical loads will automatically be reduced. When
this occurs, the rear window defogger may take
slightly longer to clear the glass, the heated seats
may not get as warm as they usually do and the
climate control fan may cut back to a lower speed.
For more battery saving information, see “Battery
Saver Active Message” underDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 246.
Electric Power Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM)
that estimates the battery’s temperature
and state of charge. It then adjusts the voltage for
best performance and extended life of the battery.
When the battery’s state of charge is low, the
voltage is raised slightly to quickly put the charge
back in. When the state of charge is high, the
voltage is lowered slightly to prevent overcharging.
If the vehicle has a voltmeter gage or voltage
display on the Driver Information Center (DIC),
you may see the voltage move up or down.
This is normal. If there is a problem, an alert
will be displayed.The battery can be discharged at idle if the
electrical loads are very high. This is true for all
vehicles. This is because the generator (alternator)
may not be spinning fast enough at idle to produce
all the power that is needed for very high electrical
loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following loads are on: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at
high speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into accessory
power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s
output and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It can
increase engine idle speed to generate more
power, whenever needed. It can temporarily
reduce the power demands of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels,
without being noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action, this action
may be noticeable to the driver. If so, a Driver
Information Center (DIC) message might be
displayed, such as Battery Saver Active or Service
Battery Charging System. If this message is
displayed, it is recommended that the driver reduce
the electrical loads as much as possible. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 246.
201